Wo bleibt die Kostenreduktion durch die Megawattklasse?

The steady extension of wind energy use within the past years was accompanied by new turbine generations. New generations with more installed power and improved economy. The following article investigates whether the new windturbines of the megawatt-class can be operated economically. Therefore, it shows a cost comparison between the megawattturbines and turbines which are already introduced at the market. The results express that the energy generating costs rise with increasing size of the turbines. While turbines of 600 kW-size can be operated economically at about 6.3 m/s medium windspeed at 30 m height, the 1500-kW-turbine already needs 6.7 m/s medium windspeed to reach the break even point..